Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Ken Kobylowski today urged all Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Amerigroup New Jersey Inc. policyholders who may have been affected by the recent data breach at Anthem Inc. to avail themselves of identity repair assistance and credit monitoring services being offered by the health insurer.

Anthem Inc., one of the nation’s largest health insurers, suffered a data breach last month. Last Friday officials at Anthem said the following New Jersey consumers may have been affected: current policyholders of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and past policyholders of those plans who accessed services out of state dating back to 2004; current policyholders of Amerigroup New Jersey Inc. and past policyholders dating back to 2004.

“Anthem Inc. is offering free identity repair assistance and credit monitoring services to New Jersey residents who may have been affected by the data breach,” said Commissioner Kobylowski. “That includes about 209,000 current policyholders at Amerigroup New Jersey Inc., a subsidiary of Anthem, and former policyholders dating back to 2004 as well as current and previous members of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey who accessed services outside of New Jersey in a state where Anthem operates. I urge any consumers who may have been affected to access these services.”

Earlier this month, Anthem Inc. announced that on January 29 cyber attackers gained access to the company information technology system and obtained personal information relating to consumers who were or are currently covered by Anthem or other independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans that work with Anthem.

“Any Medicaid members that are enrolled with Amerigroup should absolutely take advantage of the precautionary protections the insurer is offering,” said Valerie Harr, the director of the Department of Human Services’ Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, which includes Medicaid. “We’re working closely with Amerigroup and Horizon to assure that every plan member is aware of the breach and taking action.”

Anthem’s presence in New Jersey is mainly in Amerigroup New Jersey Inc., but the company warned that policyholders of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey who accessed health services outside of New Jersey in any of the areas that Anthem serves over the past ten years may be impacted.

Current and former Anthem members dating back to 2004 are being offered identity repair assistance and credit monitoring services via AnthemFacts.com.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Anthem, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving members in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin; and specialty plan members in other states. For more information on Anthem companies go to: www.antheminc.com/companies.

Here are links to alerts posted by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Amerigroup on this issue: